1.
If there is no child support order, would an order be established in
the state where the noncustodial parent lives?

Yes. The case would be referred to the other state. A petition would be
mailed to the other state’s child support agency. The other state would
review income information and set the amount of monthly support
payments.

The Alaska child support agency may be able to claim jurisdiction and
establish paternity if the alleged father once lived here, or if the
child was conceived in Alaska. Otherwise, we petition the other state to
establish paternity under its laws. Often, genetic tests will be ordered
to prove paternity.

3.
How long will it take to establish a child support order if the
noncustodial parent lives out of state?

It can take from six to nine months for another state to open a case.
Many states establish child support orders through a court instead of an
administrative process. This means it usually takes them longer to get
an order.

4.
Why does the other state require income information from both parents in
setting up the case?

Many states require income information from the custodial parent and the
noncustodial parent to establish a child support order.

5.
How long will it take to start receiving support payments if there is a
child support order and CSSD knows where the noncustodial parent is
working?

If we are not working through another state, we will send a
wage-withholding order to the employer within two days of learning where
the parent is employed. The employer is required to start sending in
payments within the next pay cycle.

If we are working through another state, we will inform them when we
know who the employer is. The other state will send the withholding
order.

6.
Why does Alaska have to initiate to the other state to start
collections?

We ask the other state to pursue collections when we cannot locate the
noncustodial parent’s employer, or there is a pattern of moving from job
to job.

7.
Why does it take so long sometimes for other states to start collecting?

There could be a number of reasons: Services officials may not be able
to serve notice on the noncustodial parent due to an inadequate or
erroneous address, or the other state may be waiting for a court
hearing. While waiting for Services to begin, parents are advised to let
their caseworker know of any new information about the noncustodial
parent – such as a new address or new job.

8.
Can the Alaska child support agency contact the other state for an
update on my case?

Other states send us status updates by mail; they ask that we provide
them enough time to process the case before we start asking for updates.
For Services requests, we allow 90 days for the first update. For order
establishment requests, we allow 180 days for an update from the other
state. If you have new or updated information we will send it to the
other state and ask for a status update.

9.
If I am the custodial parent and my case is being enforced through
another state, who do I call?

If you applied for services through Alaska CSSD, you would work through
us.

10.
Can the Alaska child support agency attach the property of a
noncustodial parent who lives in another state?

We work through the other state and ask them to attach property of a
noncustodial parent in another state. In a few cases we can garnish bank
accounts or other financial assets directly, but most of the time we
need to work through other states.

It’s difficult to enforce child support orders when the noncustodial
parent intentionally moves to avoid responsibility. You can help by
telling us whenever you learn of the noncustodial parent moving or
taking a new job.

12.
Isn't there a law that makes it a federal crime to avoid paying child
support?

Yes, it is a federal crime to willfully fail to pay support if the child
and noncustodial parent live in different states. The parent can be
charged with a felony if the past-due child support exceeds $5,000, or
is more than one year delinquent.

In order to convict a parent, the U.S. Attorney's Office must prove in
court that the parent was financially able to meet the child support
obligation at the time the payment was due. A major consideration in
screening a case for federal prosecution is whether all reasonably
available civil and state criminal remedies have been pursued.

Priority is given to cases:

where there is a pattern of moving between states to avoid payment;

where there is a pattern of deception, such as using a false name or
Social Security number;

where the parent fails to make support payments after being held in
contempt of court; and

where failure to make support payments is connected to some other
federal offense such as bankruptcy fraud.